Microsoft is planning on shipping a version of Windows 7 to Europe that will not include Internet Explorer.

According to News.com, Microsoft’s newest proposal is to offer a version of Windows 7 which strips out Internet Explorer (IE) 8. Not hides it — like is currently possible via a “remove features” capability. The Softies are proposing to sell a separate version, designated Windows 7 E which doesn’t include a browser in it at all.

Sources close to Microsoft confirmed that Microsoft has been notifying PCmakers of its intention to field Windows 7 E in the European Union as a way to comply with antitrust regulations there.

Microsoft added the “Remove IE” switch to Windows 7 a few months ago. IE was just one of a number of “removable” features in the Release Candidate build of Windows 7, which Microsoft made available to testers in late April. The full list of user-removable Windows 7 features (in addition to ones that already may be “deselected” in Vista) include:* Windows Media Player* Windows Media Center* Windows DVD Maker* Internet Explorer 8* Windows Search* Handwriting Recognition (through the Tablet PC Components option)* Windows Gadget Platform* Fax and Scan* XPS Viewer and Services (including the Virtual Print Driver)

Of course. We must not forget that the browsers are merely gui's to the internet. Befroe they became popular, we had to use prompts in Dos in order to achieve anything on the web. As the web was very small, this was not a big deal. It is unlikely that new users would be familiar with those old fashoined ways and, if they were new to computers, would probably not have an inkling as to how to start but, fwiw, you could download a browser, without a browser installed.

Take an example of obtaining the latest Firfox:

Here's how to install Firefox without using a browser:To start FTP, click on the Start menu, then "Run..." and enter:ftp (or go straight to the Command prompt, run as Admistartor, and type ftp)Then click "OK."When the ftp prompt appears, type:open releases.mozilla.orgThen press Enter. You will be connected to the Mozilla Firefox FTP download site.Note that you will need to press Enter after every command that follows.When prompted for your username enter: anonymous As your password enter: your email addressWhen the ftp prompt reappears enter these commands, one at a time, pressing enter after each one and waiting for a response from the server:cd pub/mozilla.org/firefox/releasescd latest-2.0cd win32

Now, to see a list of languages and countries that Firefox is available for, type:lsIf you live in the United States or you prefer your interface in U.S. English, your next command is:cd en-USIf you prefer another language, cd to that directory instead.Next, to find out the name of the current version of the Firefox installer, use one more "ls" command:lsThis last "ls" command will show you the exact name of the installer for the current version of Firefox 2.0, among other files. You are looking for the filename that ends with .exe. AS OF THIS WRITING, it is:Firefox Setup 2.0.0.20.exeBut you need to use the ls command to see what the current version is instead of relying on this.Next, type the command:binaryTo make sure the file is moved as a program and not as a text file, which would ruin it.Now we need to get it to go to your desktop.'Fortunately, the desktop "lives" right inside your home folder, so we can use the lcd (Local Change Directory) command to go there:lcd DesktopType:get "Firefox Setup 2.0.0.20.exe" (If that is the setup program name you found with the ls command. )(The quotation marks are important!)The file will take a while to download. On a dialup modem a little longer. When and if the ftp prompt comes back without an error message, type:quitYou should now find the install on your desktop.

:S, Why is that post needed..? Most of the people here know how to use ftp.

Actually, it's a very imformative post. While most users of this forum could use FTP, I can't say that I can remember FTP from the command line off memory. Guides like this will be useful to refer back to should I ever have the misfortune of using Windows 7 E installs.

I suspect you didn't even read his post properly. I suggest that you do before commenting, and that you also remember that this forum is not full of people who spend their time doing everything from a command line, and as such, may not know the more uncommon tasks, such as FTP.

I see, your right though, it is informative, but DOS FTP probably wouldnt be too god with downloading files like: Firefox Setup 2.0.0.20.exe. since CMD doesnt support LFN, even in 2009. O_O

Attually CMD does support LFN. Just open up a directory with long file names and hit dir. That will give them to you. If you want to see short file names, use the /x switch and it will give you both long and short. You have to understand that DOS and Command Prompt are completely different things, even though they look similar.